The Keys to the Kingdom

Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

In today’s Gospel, the very first sentence tells us that Jesus and his disciples went to the region of Caesarea Philippi. Why is the location of Jesus so important that it is called out?

There is a backstory here: Caesarea Philippi contains a cave once sacred to the Greek goat god named Pan where human sacrifices were performed. Etched on the walls inside the cave was a Greek sign that said, “Gates of Hades.” So Jesus took his disciples to the area known at that time as the literal “gates of hell” for what He does in today’s reading.

It is here that Jesus asks his disciples, “who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter confesses Him to be the Christ, the Son of the living God. So Jesus responds “And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.”

This statement made by Jesus near “the gates of Hades” was intended for an audience far beyond His small group of disciples: He was making a statement not only to his disciples but also to the entirety of both earthly and spiritual realms. Here, when Jesus says “the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it,” He is announcing to both man and to Satan that His Church will reign victorious in the end. It means, no matter what, Satan loses and those who follow the path of Christ can gain entry into Heaven.

Next, Jesus empowers His Church over both earthly and spiritual realms: He says to Peter “I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

Just what are these keys are that Jesus gave to Peter?

The keys that Jesus gave to Peter are the keys to our salvation that are shared with us through the gift of the 7 Sacraments. The keys can be found scattered along the paths of our daily lives. As we walk our paths, the keys to our salvation are there for us, although often they seem hidden.

Our journey to the kingdom of heaven is a moment-by-moment search for the keys given to St. Peter and starting with baptism, all the way to our final anointing, the keys to the kingdom of heaven are placed in our hands by Holy Mother Church. Our task is simply to recognize them and use them wisely.

Sometimes we think that the kingdom of heaven lies at the end of a long earthly journey, during which we endure trials and suffering, hoping that at long last St. Peter will unlock the pearly gates for us. Although that may be true in a sense, we are also passing through the doors to the kingdom of heaven every day, if we recognize and use the keys given to us.

Although the keys given to St. Peter are present in each of the 7 sacraments, let me just focus on one sacrament, the sacrament of matrimony, to illustrate what these keys are and how they work.

When a couple is called to the married life, they stand before this altar and make their vows to God and each other. As a sign of their commitment to each other, they exchange rings. But the ring could also be the keys given to Peter, symbolizing the many keys to the kingdom of heaven that await them.

The first key given them is a deep love for each other. This key opens the door to unity. The two become one.

But like all keys, the matrimonial key both opens and closes. It unlocks a passionate love but it also must lock up the door to selfishness, to old habits and baggage that must be left behind if the couple is to journey well on the path of marriage. And yet, at the same time, it must not lock away the past so tightly that the marriage becomes stifling. The key to matrimony must be used wisely to BOTH lock and unlock.

In marriage, some doors are best left permanently locked. One example is doors to activities which are harmful to you or your family or leave little time or energy for God.

One of the doors through which most couples will pass bears this sign: CHILDREN. The key that opens this door is made of patience, courage and lots of self-sacrifice. It is a key that will open up an entirely new and gratifying life for couples that pick it up.

There are many keys along the married path. And I leave it to your imagination to name them.

I will mention only one other important key—the key of prayer. You’ve heard: “The family that prays together, stays together.” We’ve all heard it but often don’t know where to find it. We need to do more to make this key available, for it leads through a door that promises the clearest view of the kingdom of heaven. For parents who value the salvation of their spouses and children, this key is definitely worth looking for!

No matter what vocation we choose, there comes a time when we reach the final door—the door that leads to the next life. If we have been faithful in accepting the keys along the path we have chosen, then this key will fit naturally into our hands. And the lock it fits will open easily.

When the final door is opened, perhaps we may see St. Peter standing with his big key. But he never has to use it. All of the little keys along the way have opened the gates of heaven for us. We simply pass through.

Let us pray.

Heavenly Father, we thank you so much for allowing your only begotten son Jesus to come to earth to not only provide for our salvation, but also to leave keys to help us along our life’s path. Please help and protect us, Lord, when it seems like we can't find the keys you laid out for us. Please also help us to keep locked those doors which should remain locked but open those doors that need to be opened. All this in your name we pray, amen.